At the centre of the known universe lies the giant space hospital Terminus. Terminus is a facility where the sufferers of Lazar’s disease (which is similar to leprosy) are cured. Terminus is staffed by the Vanir, who depend on Hydromel from the Company that they are effectively slaves to. Nyssa of Traken offers to create an independent supply of Hydromel for the Vanir so that they are free of the Company and also to assist the dog-like Garm in the curing of Lazars. This led to an emotional farewell from Nyssa as the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough left in the TARDIS without her. Terminus is said to have jettisoned its fuel reserves back in time which inadvertently created the fictional Doctor Who universe (Whoniverse).

Terminus

★★☆☆☆

TX: 15/02/1983 – 23/02/1983

Written by Stephen Gallagher    Directed by Mary Ridge

The Fifth Doctor, Tegan, Turlough and Nyssa discover a dimensional time crack in the TARDIS that leads to Terminus, a hospital at the centre of the known universe. Terminus is a facility where the sufferers of Lazar’s disease, an ailment similar to leprosy, are cured. However, the methods for curing the Lazars are far from ethical. Terminus is staffed by the Vanir who are enslaved by the company that runs Terminus because they are dependent on the company’s supply of Hydromel. Two intruders have boarded Terminus to find out what is going on there. The Doctor discovers that Terminus is at the exact centre of the known universe. Tegan and Turlough hide from the contagious Lazars. Nyssa is taken by the tall, dog-like Garm to be cured along with the other Lazars. By the way, I am 182cm tall. The Vanir and the Garm are both names taken from Norse mythology. Incidentally, my late grandfather (1920-2008) was Norwegian (hence my Norwegian surname Olsen) and I had many Finnish and Swedish friends at university. I have visited Oslo, Norway and I have been to almost every European country. Also, Dr Eirik Bjorge, my international law lecturer and dissertation supervisor at Bristol University, was awarded the Gold Medal by the King of Norway for his book The Evolutionary Interpretation of Treaties and he has three law degrees from Oxford University! Nyssa discovers that the Lazars are being cured in a chamber within Terminus. The Doctor reveals that Terminus jettisoned its fuel back in time aeons ago, which caused The Big Bang and created the universe in the first place (Castrovalva). A second fuel jettison would undoubtedly destroy the universe. The Garm comes to the Doctor’s aid and uses its strength to hold the switch in place, preventing the fuel jettison. Having saved Terminus, Nyssa decides to stay behind and help. She offers to make an independent supply of Hydromel for the Vanir, so that they are free from the Company. Tegan and the Doctor reluctantly say goodbye to Nyssa, concerned for her safety. The pair leave with Turlough in the TARDIS. The Black Guardian is annoyed with Turlough for continually failing to honour their agreement for him to kill the Doctor, so he gives him one final chance. Despite a promising script from Stephen Gallagher, Terminus‘s production was negatively affected by the replacement of Mary Ridge as director.